BRIDGEWATERS BIO

James H. Bridgewater was born in 1835 in VA. He moved to Lincoln County, KY in the early 1850’s. He enlisted as a 2LT in F. Co., 3d KY INF 7/20/61 and resigned 1/17/62. Shortly after enlisting, he joined Lincoln Lodge No. 60, F&AM. On 11/10/62, he mustered a company of Secret Service Men in the KY State Guard named Bridgewater Scouts with rank of CPT. The scouts soon became renowned guerilla hunters and were also noted for encouraging slaves to flee their masters. On 6/1/64, Bridgewater became CPT of A Co., Halls Gap BN, KY State Troops. Many of his former Scouts joined him in the Battalion. He served as CPT until 3/1/65, when promoted to MAJ and taking command of the Battalion. He held this position until 7/27/65. Bridgewater and his men are noted for having twice clashed with the notorious William Quantrill during the ill-fated raid of 1865 into KY. After the war, Bridgewater went to work for the Freedmens Bureau. His success as a guerilla hunter and his new position did not hold him in good standing with many of local men of secessionist spirit. On 7/17/67, a group of these so-called men caught Bridgewater in a saloon in downtown Stanford, KY and murdered him. He was buried in Logans Creek Cemetery, just south of Stanford.

MAJ JAMES H. BRIDGEWATER
MENTIONED IN THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE WAR OF THE REBELLION

CAMP NELSON, Ky., January 30, 1865.

J. H. Bridgewater overtook forty guerrillas in Federal uniform five miles west of Harrodsburg yesterday evening. Killed and captured twelve. Says they are going in the direction of G. and F. Railroad. He is pressing them, and desires you to head them off.

By order of Brig. Gen. S.S. Fry:
G. W. ALEXANDER,
Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL,
Frankfort, Ky.

DANVILLE, Ky., February 8, 1865,
Capt. J. S. BUTLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
We have arranged with Captain Bridgewater to move to Hustonville to-night, and promptly notify us if the guerillas are moving in that direction. Meanwhile the squad here has scouts well out on the Lebanon and Perryville pikes, who will notify us if they are moving in this direction, in which case Captain Bridgewater will join us and we will then fight. Captain Bridgewater is now starting from Stanford with this understanding. Will you approve?

W. L. Gross
Captain and Assistant Superintendent.

LEXINGTON, Ky., February 8, 1865 – 9 p.m.
Capt. W. L. GROSS,
Danville, Ky.:
The movement of Captain Bridgewater is approved. Major Mahoney had desperate fight with guerrillas at Bradfordsville to-day. The rebels went toward Hustonville. Captain Bridgewater to keep after them, but not to run into Major Mahoney. The general wants every effort made to catch them.

J. S. Butler
Assistant Adjutant-General

LEXINGTON, February 8, 1865—9 p.m.
COMMANDING OFFICER, Crab Orchard, Ky.:
Hard fight at Bradfordsville with rebels. They are coming toward Hustonville. Captain Bridgewater and company from Danville after them. Keep ready and help if possible.

By order of Brigadier-General Hobson:
J. S. BUTLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

LEXINGTON, Ky., February 8, 1865.
Major MAHONEY,
Lebanon, Ky.:
The general wants you to keep after the rebels. Bridgewater and one company from Danville are moving to help you. Don’t let them get off.

J. S. BUTLER
Assistant Adjutant-General.

LEXINGTON, Ky., February 9, 1865.

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, MILITARY DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY:
I have the honor to report that a train of nine wagons was captured yesterday morning at 11 o’clock at New Market by guerrillas, numbering forty-five, and burned by them. Three of the train guards were killed and four captured and taken to Bradfordsville, where they were murdered by the guerrillas under Captain Clarke. Major Mahoney followed the guerrillas from Lebanon and fought them at Bradfordsville with thirty-five men of the invalid corps. Detachments stationed at Crab Orchard, Campbellsville, Columbia, one at Danville, one at Stanford, Lebanon, Lawrenceburg, all moved out after them, leaving citizens to guard town. This morning at 2 o’clock the detachment from Stanford, under Captain Bridgewater, of State force, attacked the guerrillas on Little South Fork, west of Hustonville; killed 4, captured 35 horses and equipments; ran 30 or 35 of their men into the woods, most of whom were barefooted; only 7 got away mounted. Captain Clarke escaped barefooted, but our men in three detachments are hunting for them and with good prospect of finding them as the snow is fresh on the ground.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. H. HOBSON,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Capt. J. BATES DICKSON,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Military District of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.

LEXINGTON, Ky., February 9, 1865.
Adjutant-General LINDSEY,
Frankfort, Ky.:
Bridgewater smashed up the guerrillas at Hustonville at 2 o’clock this morning. Killed 4, captured 35 horses, and scattered rest in the woods barefooted.

J. S. BUTLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

DANVILLE, Ky., February 9, 1865.
Capt. J. S. BUTLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
Have just received Captain Bridgewater’s report. He came up with the guerrillas on the Little South Fork, west of Hustonville, this morning at 2 o’clock; killed 4 of them and captured 35 of their horses and equipments, and ran thirty or thirty-five of their men into the woods, most of whom were barefooted. They went in the direction of Parksville or Haysville. Only six or seven of them got away mounted. Captain Clarke escaped barefooted. The squad from here have been notified, and are scouting the country south of Parksville. I have also notified Major Mahoney.

W. L. GROSS,
Captain and Assistant Superintendent.

LEXINGTON, February 9, 1865.

Capt. W. L. GROSS,
Danville, Ky.:
Happy to receive your report of Bridgewater’s success. Tell the captain he has thanks of General Hobson and authorities here. Tell the commanding officer at Danville he is expected to find guerrillas who escaped, and to hunt them close.

J. S. BUTLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

STANFORD, May 4, 1865.
Brigadier-General HOBSON:
I left Mount Sterling on May 1, passed through the upper portion of Montgomery County, through Powell, Worth, and Estill Counties. Found everything quiet. A squad of guerrillas were captured by a company of State troops, and, while on the way to Lexington, were shot while attempting to escape. I brought all my men in, but lost one horse.

J. H. BRIDGEWATER,
Major.

STANFORD, Ky., May 9, 1865.
Brig. Gen. E. H. HOBSON:
Guerrillas under Goulder are operating in lower edge of Washington. Shall I take my mounted men and go for them? Please answer immediately.

J. H. BRIDGEWATER,
Major.

LEXINGTON, May 10, 1865.
Capt. J. BATES DICKSON,
Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters Louisville:
Major Bridgewater with 100 men has been ordered to hunt down guerrillas under Goulder and other leaders in Wilson and adjoining counties. Bridgewater left Stanford this morning.

E. H. HOBSON,
Brigadier-General.

LEXINGTON, Ky., May 19, 1865.
Major BRIDGEWATER,
Stanford, Ky.:
Send a detachment of your command to Somerset and vicinity to capture and kill a gang of twenty-five guerrillas near that place.

By order of Brigadier-General Hobson:
J. S. BUTLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

LEXINGTON, Ky., May 19, 1865.

Captain INGRAM,
Somerset, Ky.:
Have ordered some of Bridgewater’s men to hunt guerrillas you report. Look out for them.

By order of Brigadier-General Hobson:
J. S. BUTLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

STANFORD, Ky., May 23, 1865.
Brigadier-General HOBSON:
My men have returned from Somerset and vicinity. I have reliable information to the effect that a band of guerrillas robbed the citizens of many horses, &c., at or near Williamsburg and left, going in direction of Knoxville. Many depredations are being committed near the Tennessee line, southeast of Monticello, by citizen guerrillas. No subsistence for man or horse can be procured in that country.

J. H. BRIDGEWATER,
Major.